Background
Varner, Gary Robert was born on October 30, 1951 in Keokuk, Iowa, United States. Son of Robert O. and Edith L. Varner.
(Trees and forests are rich in symbolism and have been fea...)
Trees and forests are rich in symbolism and have been feared or revered since man began to walk the earth. Mankind has given a recognizable face to the awesome and impalpable forces of nature in the image of the Green Man and the nature spirits that this book explores. In Part I, the author discusses the gods of nature and the folklore of trees, tracing a variety of traditions and beliefs; in Part II he presents the history of the image of the Green Man, and its use in pre-Christian and early Christian times up to today. The ways in which different societies and different craftsmen have depicted these spirits display the wide creative range of the human imagination, but the persistence of the theme suggests that in all their many facets these spirits represent a deep, primordial sense that humans have shared since civilization began. For the very origin and message of these images have remained the same, even if somewhat altered over time. Traditional customs from around the world, from the rites that celebrate spring and egg on the forces of fertility to folk health remedies and the use of talismans to ward off illness and other evils, show some surprising similarities and hint at the shared origins of human culture. Even though the original significance of many customs has been lost or diluted, they still hold an appeal and many towns even today are re-introducing seasonal fairs to recreate the link between man and nature. Varner presents examples ancient and new, from Europe and Asia, East Coast and West, and identifies in particular the different guises of the Green Man who has figured in architecture since before the advent of Christianity and still makes his appearance today, peering out from behind his leaves on California banks and New York brownstone houses. A delightful world tour of traditions and beliefs related to trees and forests, Mythic Forest and the Green Man highlights modern-day revivals of ancient customs and identifies the Green Man motif in American architecture from Manhattan to San Francisco. The book will appeal to readers interested in folklore, mythology, urban archeology, and, of course, trees and their lore.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0875864341/?tag=2022091-20
(Water of Life-Water of Death is an exploration of the fol...)
Water of Life-Water of Death is an exploration of the folklore and mythology of sacred water found throughout the world. A companion volume to Sacred Wells, Water of Life-Water of Death continues the quest for the underlying sacredness associated with water and the universal themes found in folklore and religious traditions from around the world. Blending personal exploration with archaeology, folklore, and ancient traditions, Water of Life-Water of Death takes the reader on a fascinating trip to surreal lakes, hot springs, and rivers in search of the spirit helpers, demons, faeries, mysterious Black Dogs, Women in White, Water Babies and the gods and goddesses that are part of this story. Water of Life-Water of Death connects common themes found in water lore to sites in Europe, Africa, the United States, Polynesia, and elsewhere. Gary R. Varner provides a glimpse into the world of spiritual development and the continuing rituals and traditions associated with life-giving waters and how these traditions continue to create a need for sacred space.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1413728863/?tag=2022091-20
(Bringing together a medley of stories, myths, and folklor...)
Bringing together a medley of stories, myths, and folklore Gary Varner shares a fascination and respect for humankind's early and contemporary cultures and wonders at similarities across the board. Here, he focuses on "Little People" and giants, animals and were-creatures, and the odd, helpful or threatening ways imputed to our earthly companions including dogs and cats, bats and spiders, and the stories people have told each other about them since time immemorial. Gary Varner has performed a valuable service in these books. Presenting lore from about the world, a collector's hoard of traditions rich and strange, ... Varner shows there really are obvious and puzzling similarities between widely separated cultures. Gary Varner has pointed the way to some important cross-cultural readings in the ageless themes of stone and water. - Jeremy Harte, Curator of the Bourne Hall Museum, Surrey, England, in Northern Earth magazine, #103, 2005 Menhirs, Dolmen and Circles of Stone is an excellent guide to large-scale magical stones and stone magic. This book is a must for anyone interested in megalithic sites. Most highly recommended. -PanGaia Magazine, United States As with other books by the same author, this is a book based upon broad research into the subject, stretching across the world. What results is a fascinating weave of stories and images, descriptions of sites and associated tales, that leaves a sense of a thousand deities whispering in the air. Because it is so broad a sweep, the positive outcome is an overreaching perspective of the patterns and commonalities held between human communities - our ancestors - all around the world. The book is a sound overview and provocation to research more deeply ourselves, to find alternative visions, tales and interpretations, to find out more about the sacred currents, their depths and importance - both to our ancestors and to ourselves. The author's notations are comprehensive, allowing us easily to follow the clues. A valuable piece of work. -The Druid Network, England * Gary R. Varner is a lecturer and writer on folklore and early religions. He is author of several popular books comparing legends and beliefs around the world, including The Mythic Forest, the Green Man & the Spirit of Nature (Algora 2006); Menhirs, Dolmen and Circles of Stone: The Folklore and Magic of Sacred Stone (Algora 2005); and Sacred Wells: A Study in the History, Meaning, and Mythology of Holy Wells. His approach incorporates details from ancient cultures and from Native American, UK and European, Asian, South Pacific and African folklore. Varner is a member of the American Folklore Society.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0875865453/?tag=2022091-20
(Sacred Wells is an in depth study of springs, wells and w...)
Sacred Wells is an in depth study of springs, wells and waters that have been venerated from California to Cornwall, Russia to Australia. Tales of faeries, black hounds, hauntings and miraculous cures are explored. Many of these sites are still locations for religious festivals and ritual, unchanging for hundreds of years. This book is a welcome addition to the scant literature concerning holy wells, springs, and rivers around the world, one of just a few serious works outside of regional studies which discusses, in depth, the folklore, mythology, and archaeology of holy wells and springs, as well as rituals that still exist today at many of the sacred water sites around the world. Sacred Wells is a fascinating look at the continuation of ancient pagan traditions into modern culture. Many of these water sources, from California to Cornwall and from Estonia to Australia, are still frequented for their miraculous healing powers. Mysterious beasts, ghosts, fairies, and gods are still believed to reside in and near these holy areas. This study examines the universal appeal of these sites and provides an excellent reference for anyone interested in folklore, history, and the development of religion. Preface by the Author: Sacred Wells was originally published in 2002. Since that time, I have visited a large number of additional sacred sites, including those associated with Native American rock art, gargoyle-embellished cathedrals, sacred landscapes and, of course, sacred wells. I continue to travel back to the subject of holy wells and waters and when Algora Publishing gave me an opportunity to expanded and reissue the book in this present volume, I couldn t resist. Much of our mythic environment is forgotten, discarded or abused. The thirst for coal and oil, for land for housing developments and business parks, and the desire to control the few wild rivers to harness energy, consistently degrades our habitat and the habitat of the wild animals that continue to struggle to survive. It also destroys much of the landscape that, for a variety of reasons, has a special meaning for various people, some of that revealed in ancient tales that used to be told. Now, many of the mysterious locations our ancestors held in awe are forgotten. I am pleased to reissue Sacred Wells so that these sacred places and their legends will continue to be known to those who may wish to learn from them and perhaps even to experience their special nature for themselves. Sacred wells are recognized in nearly every culture and in every age. Long associated with feminine, divine power they are also seen as places of healing, magick, wisdom and sources to the Other World. Some believe that these wells were originally created to bring the moon and its powers to the earth, at least in its reflection. Water from these holy wells was believed to have the intrinsic value of fertility and life, and thereby love and sexuality. In many cultures, and for untold centuries, it has been believed that Holy wells are inhabited, or at least guarded, by nymphs and faeries. Holy wells are also contradictory. Traditions have held that they are life giving, they grant wishes, they heal, they foretell the future but also that they may take life, apply curses, and serve as residences for lost souls and supernatural mischief-makers. Most holy wells have been renamed after Christian saints but in many cases the ancient practices associated with them continue. Votive offerings are still left in secret at many out-of-the-way locations throughout Great Britain and Europe. What is most important is how these monuments affect us today. Do we find an important archetypal link in our concept of what is holy and divine through these wells? Do we find ourselves at peace when we visit these areas?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0875867170/?tag=2022091-20
(The Dark Wind provides a survey of witches around the wor...)
The Dark Wind provides a survey of witches around the world, their prehistoric origin and how society has viewed them throughout history. Folklorist Gary R. Varner explores the use of magic, spells and curses among indigenous groups as well as state approved religions such as those observed in ancient Rome and Greece, and how even contemporary Christianity uses many of the same "magic" combinations. Also examined is the current "witch craze" in several countries where thousands are being killed as witches,the underlying reasons for this tragedy and the history of anti-witchcraft laws. The Dark Wind is a book for everyone interested in anthropology, archaeology, ancient history, religion and the occult. Illustrated with contemporary woodcuts and drawings. The author is a member of the American Folklore Society and the Foundation for Mythological Studies.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1430318139/?tag=2022091-20
social services administrator writer
Varner, Gary Robert was born on October 30, 1951 in Keokuk, Iowa, United States. Son of Robert O. and Edith L. Varner.
Associate of Arts, Palomar College, San Marcos, California, 1976.
Program analyst State Department Health Services, Sacramento, 1993—2001, California Department Social Services, Sacramento, 2001—2004. Retired, 2004.
(Bringing together a medley of stories, myths, and folklor...)
(Sacred Wells is an in depth study of springs, wells and w...)
(The Dark Wind provides a survey of witches around the wor...)
(Water of Life-Water of Death is an exploration of the fol...)
(Trees and forests are rich in symbolism and have been fea...)
Member of National Writers Union, Foundation Mythological Studies, American Folklore Society, Joseph Campbell Foundation.
Married Susan; children: Timothy, Brenna.